She went straight home.

Mr.Dalmaine was absent at luncheon-time; Paula ate nothing and talked fretfully to the servant about the provision that was made for her--though she never took the least trouble to see that her domestic concerns went properly.

She idled about the drawing-room till three o'clock.

A visitor came; her instructions were: 'Not at home.' At half-past three she ordered a hansom to be summoned, instead of her own carriage, and, having dressed with nervous rapidity, she ran downstairs and entered the vehicle.

'Drive to the British Museum,' she spoke up to the cabman through the trap.
But just as the horse was starting, it stopped again.